“ Mr. Miller,” said Mr. Pickwick to his old acquaintance, the hardheaded gentleman, “a glass of wine?”

“With great satisfaction, Mr. Pickwick,” replied the hardheaded gentleman solemnly.

“You’ll take me in?” said the benevolent old clergyman.

“And me,” interposed his wife.

“And me, and me,” said a couple of poor relations at the bottom of the table, who had eaten and drunk very heartily, and laughed at everything.

Mr. Pickwick expressed his heartfelt delight at every additional suggestion; and his eyes beamed with hilarity and cheerfulness.